1) Magic JohnsonThere's a statue of the guy in front of Staples for a reason. he defines what it is to be a Laker and to a larger extent and NBA player.

2) Wilt ChamberlainIf you thought Shaq was dominant... Wilt changed the way people saw and played the game. Just look at this records and it'll give you an idea of why he's #2 in my book.

3) Jerry WestAnother guy that defined the Laker attitude and mindset for decades. He is a winner and demands no less from those around him, you gotta love that.

4) Kareem-Abdul JabbarArguably the best center of all time. He had the best offensive weapon in NBA history (in the Skyhook) and was a machine when it came to crunch time.

5) James WorthyYet another underrated player. He was the personification of smooth. If he had been on any other team as the lead guy, he would've been ranked among the game's all time best.

6) George MikanThe big man that started it all. He got the Lakers off to championship runs and got people watching the NBA.

7) Elgin BaylorI have a hard time believing that everyone forgets what a monster Elgin was. The guy was an incredible player, perhaps the NBA's most overlooked player ever.

8) Michael CooperHe should be a retired number. His 3-point stats in playoff games and his unrelenting defense was a sight to see in the 80s. The Lakers would've been nowhere without him backing up everyone the defensive end.

9) Gail GoodrichEveryone's most forgotten player. He wasn't flashy, but there have been fewer more solid players to ever put on a Laker uniform. Look him up, watch some of his games - there's a reason he's among the retired numbers.

10) Kobe BryantNow don't freak out... I can't rank Kobe any higher in there (yet) simply because the guy is still playing. In fact, I find it difficult to put him in there at all while he's still active. When all is said and done I think its easier to find his rank, which could very well be right around the top. As of right now, he's in the conversation but who knows where he would end up. I don't know how people can asses someone's career until its over - and Kobe has a long way to go yet.

In regards to Shaquille O'Neal's absence on my list:I think Shaq's childish antics, his words about the organization and the unmitigated gall , greed and infantile behavior he showed towards the Lakers (and the fans, who everyone conveniently forgets he called "phony") has pushed him out of the list for me. The guy has permanently sullied his reputation in my eyes. Did I respect what he did here? Sure I did, but respect isn't forever when you show yourself to be a greedy, hateful and jealous person that never put their whole heart into playing the way they should have.

In regards to Shaquille O'Neal's absence on my list:I think Shaq's childish antics, his words about the organization and the unmitigated gall , greed and infantile behavior he showed towards the Lakers (and the fans, who everyone conveniently forgets he called "phony") has pushed him out of the list for me. The guy has permanently sullied his reputation in my eyes. Did I respect what he did here? Sure I did, but respect isn't forever when you show yourself to be a greedy, hateful and jealous person that never put their whole heart into playing the way they should have.

And yet rings is all that matters, and he led us to 3 rings, and 4 conference titles. Great characters like Fisher are nice to have. Give me an [expletive] who will give me rings anyday.

And yet rings is all that matters, and he led us to 3 rings, and 4 conference titles. Great characters like Fisher are nice to have. Give me an [expletive] who will give me rings anyday.

Well that's a whole other story. The thread title asked for greatest lakers. That all depends on your own definition. I think it means the guys who have a combination of doing the most for us, loyalty to our great franchise, and time spent with us, and love for our franchise. This is all opinions so all we can do is use some common sense and do what we think (of course there will be absurd things like shaq over magic but I'm sure we all know that's not true).